Cats don’t use verbal language like humans do – the basic meow we hear can have many different meanings, depending on the tone and pitch used to convey meaning. For example, a low, growl-like meow would signify aggression, and a high-pitched shrieking sound would indicate pain and/or shock.
The Cat’s Purr
The cat’s purr, which begins when they are kittens nursing (used between mother and kittens to help them bond), continues into adulthood and is thought to indicate contentment, soothing, and happiness (a friendly greeting). The purr starts in the central nervous system and vibrates the diaphragm, causing the vocal cords to vibrate. Likewise, when a cat hisses or growls, it usually indicates a warning.
The Cat’s Body Language
Cats use body language to communicate with each other and us. Cats also communicate with their eyes, ears, tail, fur, and scent marking. Cats have sebaceous glands on their foreheads, cheeks, chin, lips, tail, and paws, which are used to mark their scents. You will often notice cats rubbing their heads and cheeks on people and surfaces. Scratching is also a form of scent marking.
Most body language comes from the cat’s need to be territorial – used either to scare off enemies (aggression) or to show submission and that they are not a danger.
Scent marking is part of a cat’s communication, it will mark its territory to let other cats know that it’s there. It will also mark the humans that it lives with as well as other animals it considers part of its social group.
The Cat’s Eye
Friendly eye contact for a cat is sleepy looking, slow blinking gazes – intense staring is seen as intimidating/aggressive. Humans should mimic the cat’s eye behaviour to not appear aggressive.
Cat’s have forward facing eyes with a 200 degree visual field, allowing their depth perception and judge size of spaces (humans have 180 degree visual field), with vertical slit pupils, which quickly change size and shape depending on the amount of light available. The tapetum licidum (reflective layer at the back of the eye) bounces light through the retina – this is what allows the cat to see in very dim lighting – perfect for nighttime hunting. However, cat’s have move rod cells than cone cells which means that daytime vision isn’t as clear as nighttime vision and cats don’t see colours as well as humans.
The Cat’s Whiskers
Cats have long thick whiskers on their face. These are directly attached to the nerves in the cortex. Whiskers help the cat negotiate in poor light, they help the cat judge the size of gaps, AND they can also detect airflow allowing the cat to avoid objects and determine its prey’s body outline during hunting.
The Cat’s Ears
Cat’s also have amazing ears – the have a hearing range of up to 65,000 Hz (humans have up to 20,000 Hz), only bats and some insects have better hearing than a cat. Not only do their ears enable them to hear prey and predators (they can move them around almost like satellite dishes), they also use their ears as part of their body language communication.
When a cat is relaxed their ears are slightly forward; when a cat is alert their ears are straight up. In contrast, if the cat is scared their ears are turned right back; and if the cat’s ears are back and flattened against it’s head it is scared or getting ready to fight – this is a protective position for the cat’s ears.
The Cat’s Tail
A cat uses its tail to communicate with other cats, and humans can tell how a cat is feeling by observing what it’s doing. A relaxed cat’s tail will be gently curved down and up at the tip; if a cat is alert the tail will be slightly raised and curved.
If a cat is unsure of something, but interested, the tail will be held erect with the tip curving over. Likewise, if a cat is saying hello to another cat the tail will be held erect and vertical – if the tip or tail is quivering it is a very friendly hello.
If the cat is being submissive or has been defeated the tail will be low between the legs. However, if the cat is angry/aggressive the tail will lash from side to side.
If the cat is scared or trying to look big and aggressive the tail will be fluffed out to try to increase its appearance of size.
Reading The Cat’s Entire Body Language
By looking at the whole cat, we can better understand how the cat is feeling. For example, if your cat has erect ears, tail held high quivering, and purring when it walks into the room, it is happy to see you and is saying a very friendly hello. Likewise, if you see a cat with it’s ears back, it’s back arched and a fluffed out tail, possibly growling or hissing, the cat is trying to make itself bigger to scare something off.
Final Thoughts on Understanding Cat Communication
When you’re sharing your home with another species, it makes sense to try and learn what they are trying to communicate with you. There’s nothing worse than going to give your cat some love or comfort and it swipes or hisses at you, leaving you wondering what you did wrong. By looking at the cat’s entire body, you will be able to gadge if your cat wants attention or wants to be left alone, saving you from some undeserved scratches!
There are some more articles on cats and communication, you can find them here:
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